TY  - JOUR
T1  - Haematological and Cortisol Changes after a 3 h Road Journey in Sheep
AU - Fazio, Esterina AU - Medica, Pietro AU - Mignacca, Sebastian AU - Cravana, Cristina AU - Ferlazzo, Adriana 
JO  - Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances
VL  - 10
IS  - 19
SP  - 2487
EP  - 2492
PY  - 2011
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1680-5593
DO  - javaa.2011.2487.2492
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=javaa.2011.2487.2492
KW  - Transport
KW  -sheep
KW  -haematological variables
KW  -cortisol
KW  -stress
KW  -Italy
AB  - The effects of a short road journey on haematological variables and cortisol levels were studied in 138 healthy sheep. Animals were divided into two groups: group A (n = 93:54 pregnant ewes, 24 post-partum ewes and 15 rams) were transported 125 km by road for 3 h group B (n = 45:20 pregnant ewes, 15 post-partum ewes and 10 rams) was the control group. Blood samples were collected from both groups under basal conditions and in group A after transport and unloading. In group A pregnant ewes showed higher Red blood cell Distribution Width (RDW) (p<0.05), Plateletocrit (Pct) (p<0.01), Platelet (Plt) (p<0.01) and cortisol levels (p<0.001) after transport than basal values; post-partum ewes showed higher RDW (p<0.01), Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) (p<0.05) and cortisol levels (p<0.001), rams showed higher values of RDW (p<0.05), Plt (p<0.05) and cortisol levels (p<0.05). Pregnant ewes also showed lower values of White Blood Cell (WBC) (p<0.01) and higher values of Red Blood Cell (RBC) (p<0.01) than post partum ewes. In addition, pregnant ewes and rams showed higher cortisol levels (p<0.05) before transport than control group (p<0.05). In group B pregnant ewes showed higher WBC and RBC values (p<0.01) than post-partum ewes. Evaluation of haematological variables and circulating cortisol after a short journey is therefore, effective in evaluating short term stress in sheep and provides an additional tool for distinguishing between control group and transported animals.
ER  -